St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-09-17
copyrighted, 1871


nally humbled, had left them in dazec
condition of wonder at the might of the
"outside barbarians" Although new
era had now dawned upon an immense
empire, shut out from the world fol
thousands of years, the teeming millions
of the people as yet scarcely believed that
new order of things had arrived, and
still clung to old manners, customs, and
habits of thought Hence the visitor tc
China in 1914 hardly witnessed
the slightest symptoms of change
The single one noticed by us
in proceeding to Canton was the
sight of Chinese frigate anchored in the
river which had been built in clumsy imi.
tation of foreign models, with pierced
sides for cannon. 1t was, however, no
improvement on the beautiful "Mandarin
boats" as the armed craft of the govern
ment were styled by foreigners, their sharp
and graceful lines sweeping by, pro-
PEELED by fifty oars, as well as sails, and
heavily manned, making quick work of
evil-doers.
All kinds of boats at Whampoa, twelve
miles from Canton, offered themselves to
the choice of the visitor to the great city,
and he was obliged to choose between Chi
nese varieties if he did not wish to 60 in
his own ships boat, not single passen-
ger steamer running upon the river
There was the sampan, sort of cookie
shell worked chiefly by big scull oar at
the stern the dollar boat, much larger
and more commodious barge, and the big
numbering fast boat" so called probably
because it usually went so slow. The
dollar boat or "hong boat" proper was
by far the most pleasant and was in
deed delightful mode of locomotion.
1t was built good deal upon
the model of the Venetian gondola, quite
sharp at both ends, and with a large sa-
loon covered and prettily decorated for
the use of occupants. Cushioned seats
around the sides and large windows gave
ease and pleasure to the voyager, and the
motion impaired by oars at the bow and
huge scull at the stern was of gentle,
undulating character, very soothing as
we'll as peculiar. Some two or three
hours were thus usually spent upon the
trip, the Chinese rowers having no con-
ception of hurry and quite willing to go
to sleep all comfortably if allowed to.
But time aside the visitor was we'll re-
paid in observing the wondrous scenes
around him.
No spectacle upon earth is, perhaps,
more astounding than that of the river
population of China to the foreigner
looking upon it for the first time. For |
miles and miles before and below the
vast city of Canton spreads the array of
boats of every kind and size, their num-
Der being variously estimated at 10000 to
10000 and peopled by 100000 souls at
the very least. There are the huge,
clumsy junks of thousand tons, the
crowded passenger boats crammed to
suffocation with the unsoaped of Canton,
the numberless sampans, hong boats,
mandarin boats, trading barges, "fast"
boats and foreign sailboats, forming to-
gether an overwhelming panorama.
Literally an immense city of the waters
thus lies before the stranger, as miles
upon miles of boats are moored at right
angles, leaving broad waterways between
them for passing craft. Many of the
larger boats are beautifully decorated and
fitted with fine carvings, silken curtains,
&c. In this floating city live hun
dreds of thousands of human beings, who
from infancy to old age rarely step foot
on shore, existing on few cents day
and pursuing all kinds of occupations.
Many depend for living on the custom
Of the foreigners, who in 1914 still occu- :
pied their narrow quarters fronting on
The bank of the river These old ''fac- {
tories," as they are called, have long i
since been utterly swept out of existence, c
handsome and commodious quarters hav- 5
ng been erected on the island of Sha- y
men, mile or so above the old site. .
Yet "cribbed, cabined and confined" as v
we're these former residences of the for b
'igners, they presented a most interest
ng phase Of life, and are fondly remem- V
'ered by old visitors to Canton. h
Until the first war with England, Can $
on and Macao were the only two ports f
IA the vast empire of China open to d
oreign trade, and in the former Chinese c
was carried to its utmost 9.
INIT. A few hundred yards of space f,
llotted to the "outside barbarians," as Il
IL were styled by the imperial govern. 9
nent, were occupied by long rows of b
hongs," quarters reaching back many >
hundred feet and occupied by Tie foreign =,
lerchants. Here were at once their b
and their living and W
leeping apartments, with quarters for y
heir numerous Chinese servants. No m
oreign woman was allowed to set foot Ii
4 Canton. Tt was a community of men OF
My, with no law but their own r
ational customs; but never was en- 81
re freedom in this little realm more in
ordially united with good discipline, C
nd willing obedience to polite manners st
However strict business rules might be er
4 official hours, at meal times all were bt
n an equality, as all sat together, and W
le humblest clerk often partook of wine iv
18th the head of the great house. The fr
'rm OF merchant princes" was applied W